Symphony offers free donor appreciation concert with Lola Astanova

“Lola Astanova’s name may be new to you, but it is very familiar to millions of her fans around the world, many of them of an age and demographic that classical music has spent decades trying to reach. With a direct pianistic lineage back to Liszt and a distinct visual flair, the dazzling young pianist has perfected a riveting, deeply emotional style that hearkens back to the old masters...”

You get the idea. The Russian-born Astanova will be performing with the San Diego Symphony in a special “donor appreciation concert” 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Embarcadero Marina Park South.

Anybody who has given at least $50 to the symphony (it’s not too late; donations will be accepted up to the last minute, according to symphony officials) gets as many as eight free tickets. When you consider that the top SummerPops ticket is $76, well, you do the math (and, your $50, since it’s a contribution, is tax deductible). For tickets, call (619) 615-3957, email

The all-Russian program conducted by music director Jahja Ling will include works by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Rachmaninoff (the Piano Concerto No. 2).

This could be even more spectacular than the “1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular” that closes the pops season Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Embarcadero. While those concerts will have fireworks, Thursday’s concert will have Astanova. We report; you decide.